became fewer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "became fewer" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a decrease in quantity or number of countable items or people over time. Example: "As the years went by, the number of participants in the event became fewer, leading to its eventual cancellation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

The tide started to go out, and the horseshoe crabs became fewer.

The New Yorker

Once Rome had achieved control of the Mediterranean, galleys became fewer and smaller.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I would still get texts every now and again, but they became fewer and further between.

The Washington Post

The opportunities became fewer, the fun became habit and the $50 snowballed into thousands.

The New York Times

The women in his life became fewer, and his despotic control over male minions grew tighter.

The Guardian - Books

The support for each school was tailored to its needs and modified as those needs changed or became fewer.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

Crawford had a free-kick tipped away, but Hamilton's attacks became few and far between.

BBC

Wolves populated that area fairly quickly, making it difficult to make additional releases, which became few and far between. .

Science Magazine

The Depression meant that large commissions became few and far between.

Wikipedia

Our product mix had become obsolete and our customers became few.

Huffington Post

Free rides become fewer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "became fewer" when you want to emphasize a gradual decline in the number of countable items over a period of time. For example, "As resources depleted, opportunities for advancement "became fewer".

Common error

Avoid using "less" instead of "fewer" when referring to countable items. "Fewer" is used for discrete units, while "less" is used for uncountable quantities. For instance, use "fewer opportunities", not "less opportunities".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "became fewer" functions as a verb phrase indicating a process of reduction or decrease in the number of something. Ludwig AI shows examples where it modifies nouns relating to countable entities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

14%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "became fewer" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe a reduction in the number of countable items over time. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's particularly prevalent in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Wiki contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you're referring to countable entities, and consider more formal alternatives like "decreased in number" for professional settings. Avoid confusing "fewer" with "less", which is for uncountable items. The phrase serves to highlight diminishing quantities and can be a useful tool in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreased in number

Uses a more formal verb to convey the same meaning.

declined in numbers

Similar to "decreased in number" but with a slightly different nuance.

diminished in quantity

Emphasizes the reduction in amount or extent.

reduced in size

Focuses on a decrease in physical dimensions or scope.

lessened in frequency

Highlights a decrease in how often something occurs.

thinned out

Implies a reduction in density or concentration.

dwindled in amount

Suggests a gradual and continuous decrease.

shrank in volume

Specifically refers to a decrease in three-dimensional space.

contracted in size

Indicates a reduction in overall dimensions or scope.

tapered off

Suggests a gradual reduction to a minimal level.

FAQs

How can I use "became fewer" in a sentence?

You can use "became fewer" to describe a decrease in number over time. For example, "As technology advanced, handwritten letters "became fewer"".

What's a more formal alternative to "became fewer"?

A more formal alternative would be "decreased in number". For example, "The instances of such behavior "decreased in number" over the years".

Is it correct to say "became less" instead of "became fewer"?

While "became less" is grammatically correct, it's typically used with uncountable nouns. Use "became fewer" when referring to countable items or people.

What is the difference between "became fewer" and "were fewer"?

"Became fewer" implies a change over time, whereas "were fewer" simply states a quantity. For example, "Opportunities "became fewer" as the company downsized," versus "There "were fewer" jobs available this year".